Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Sorry for the delayed post of the CAL this week. I'm visiting my mom in lovely Colorado. We are enjoying lots of snow and family time!

This week is just adding the finishing embellishments. Making your bunny one of kind and giving it some personality!

My son picked out this lovely Green Shade. I finished it up and asked him "what else does your bunny need?" He said, " a Red Bow Tie mom" - Isn't it cute!! I would have never added a bright red bow tie but I think the colors are fun and bold together! Now maybe he just needs a top hat and a magic wand.

My daughter simply just wanted a flower added.

The kids love their bunnies!

The bunnies are getting lots of hugs and squishy time!

This was such a fun project and I'm so glad you joined me in this CAL! I learned some new crochet technics and hopefully you did too!

Facebook is being weird and the group event seems to have disappeared from the group. So hopefully it will come back! Please post your pictures in the group so we can enjoy seeing you cute bunnies!

Monday, February 18, 2013

I have a super busy week so I'm going to keep this one short and share some pictures!

If you notice my purple bunny arms are longer. I guess I missed a few rows on the green bunny arm. Oops! I noticed when I was working the 2nd one last night.

If your behind that's okay! If you're just joining in that's okay too!

If you have an hour you can get this weeks step done. Lots of little pieces but they work up fast. Next week is just accent optional pieces to make it that special one of a kind bunny! So join in the fun and show me the bunnies!!

Here are my bunnies! They are worked differently! I made my green one with a D hook. I made the Purple one with a F hook and did "only in the Back stitches" method. The purple is bigger and squishier! I love them both and their unique personalities! Just need their finished accents. Saving that for next week!

Monday, February 11, 2013

I've been so excited to see such wonderful participation in the CAL! Some have completed their adorable bunnies and they are all so cute! This week is just the body! So if your behind or getting a late start this is a good week to catch up. Below is a picture of one of my bunnies in a cute pistachio green. I think I put his eyes to low but we'll see once I get the piece sewn together. I have another one done in purple too! My kids are already excited to get them. They would be happy with just a "bunny ball" Since that's all I have done! Who is your ami for?

There are a tons more great links on her website but I thought these would help in our project! Do you have any tips to share- Feel free to post links in the comments.If you need the pattern or more info here are some links!Spring Bunny CALSpring Bunny CAL - Week 1

Don't forget to share your pics in the group as we go. I can't wait to see your progress and all your creative ideas! If you have questions post in the group and we'll all help! Have fun!!

Monday, February 4, 2013

I'm so excited about how many of you have said you will be doing the crochet along!! So far we have 50+ people going to join it! The more the merrier! For more info on the CAL visit the 1st blog post from this weekend Spring Bunny CAL.Week 1 - If you haven't already you need to gather your supplies. We are going to start with the head which is the biggest part so if you can get that done the rest will be a breeze! Here is the schedule to help move you along but you don't have to stick to it. If your like me I have this OCD about finishing one project at a time. I'm going to try to spread it out, but I'm also working on making two. One for each of my children.

Feb 3 - 10: Head & Ears

Feb 11 - 17: Body

Feb 18- 24: Arms Legs & Tail

Feb 25 - 28: Accents- (Flower, Carrot, fabric and/or Felt)

My first advise for ami is on the decrease stitches. I learned a fabulous technic and I love it for ami!!

Planet June is a fabulous resource for Ami! She has some adorable designs and great videos. I've emailed with her a few times and she is so nice and helpful! I learned this technic for an invisible decrease. Once you learn it you will never go back! So check it out!!

2nd. Label your pieces and keep them in a bag together. If you're like me with kids and dogs. Things have a way of disappearing especially small pieces. So I keep my projects in zip lock baggies. If you label your pieces you won't be confused weather it's a arm, leg or tail. If you attach them as we go you'll be fine but it wait to attach all the pieces at once labeling might help.

You can label them by letter, number or stitch marker, whatever works for you!

If you want more great tips I have to suggest Freshstitches blog! She has a great Beginners guide to Ami- It's a free download and if you've never done ami you should read through it. You can find it here .

Don't forget to share your pics in the group as we go. I can't wait to see your progress and all your creative ideas! If you have questions post in the group and we'll all help! Have fun!!

Friday, February 1, 2013

I started a Facebook group a few months back! With all the facebook pages changes I was missing on conversations with my crochet pals. It was just hard with the new format. So I decided to start a group and it's has been such a huge success. I've met so many wonderful people. We chat mostly crochet, crochet patterns and help each other out with business questions. I thought it would be fun to get together and work a Crochet Along. So here it is our 1st and hopefully not the last!

There are many types of crochet technics and I hope that we can step outside the box with these new projects and learn something new. There have been a lot of talk about Amigurmi in the group and I was surprised many people didn't know what it was or they didn't like it. I will admit I've been timid of it myself. I'd tried it in the past and didn't think it was for me.

I asked the group for ideas and we voted on an animal (a bunny.) Then we narrowed it down to this pattern:

This is a free pattern that way everyone can be involved. So to answer a few questions I've had already.

What is a CAL - Crochet A long! Everyone making the same item together as a group.

What is Amigurmi ?From Wikipedia : is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, andnuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. Amigurumi are typically animals, but can include artistic renderings or inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features, as is typical in Japanese culture.Do I have to use that small hook and tiny thread in the same color? NOAmi is often made with tiny hook and small thread and I think that is way many shy away from it, but did you know you really can use any hook or yarn. Your project will just come out a different size. I don't like tiny needles I actually am the total opposite I like Chunky yarn and large L, M, N, (no O...wonder why ) P, Q hooks.So for instance the project our group picked out calls for embroidery thread and a size 2.00 mm hook. I will NOT be using that. I'm going to use likely worsted Weight yarn and a E hook. The general rule is whatever hook the yarn label calls for go down at least a 2 hook sizes. You just want to make sure it's tight enough that the stuffing doesn't come through it. So you could even use a bulky weight yarn if it calls for a K hook then use and I hook. You'll have a fun oversized ami! but you'll probably need more yarn :) Use whatever colors, fabric, felts and details you like! Think outside the box and be creative! I'm making a couple for my kids. I'm letting them pick out colors and these will be perfect fun gift for Spring and Easter Time! Is Ami difficult? No it's pretty basicAmi is great for beginners because you usually only need to know the single crochet stitch how to increase, decrease, and ch. The scary part can be sewing it together but I have some great blog posts to share with you along the way that might help! Where do I get those eyes? You can find them at your local craft store. They are called safety eyes. I found some online from Hobby Lobby so they will likely have them in store. Check by the doll making items. You can also order them from etsy. If you have any shops you buy from that have them feel free to let us know!! You do not have to to the safety eyes you could also just embroider them or make a crochet circle and sew it on. How long will this take? We are working on this for the entire month of February. I'm going to break it up into four weeks. You'll have plenty of time!! Is this for a purpose or Charity? Not particularlyThis is just a fun project to do together. Help each other learn and enjoy in sharing our progress and items. I hope you can join us! I have an event set up but I set it for my group members only which any one is welcome to join as long as you follow the rules (which you will find in the group description. You can find the group here : CCCC Crochet Addicts. I hope you'll join us for the CAL!!! Step 1: Download the pattern, read through and gather your materials this weekend. Crochet Spring Bunny by Stephanie Jessica Lau of All About AmiWe'll get started crocheting next week!!!